Evangel students spend Spring Break studying and serving around the world

March 6, 2012 | Evangel University News

It may be Spring Break at Evangel, but there is a lot happening. This Spring Break more than 90 Evangel University students, faculty, staff and alumni are participating in both domestic and international service and study trips around the world. Eleven groups will travel to 10 countries. We are looking forward to covering these trips in more detail, with reports and photos, in the near future.

Serving around the world

England A team of nine students and two sponsors will travel to Birmingham, England, to work with Sheldon Community Church. The team will spend seven days holding assemblies for elementary children from five schools. In addition, the group will spend four days touring London and visiting sites such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, Windsor Castle, the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. They also plan to see the musical Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. Jeremy Harris, assistant professor of computer science, Jesse Tucker, junior English education major, and Christa Smith, senior biology major, will lead the trip.

Greece Dr. Steve Smallwood, assistant professor of biblical studies, will lead a team of four students to Thessaloniki, Greece. They will work with missionaries Tony and Jamie Sebastian at their coffee shop, iHeart, which is located near Aristotle University. The team will also work with children at gypsy camps and serve with a human trafficking awareness project. Alicia Doran, senior biblical languages and biblical studies double major, is the student leader of the trip.

Costa Rica Dr. Jeff Fulks, professor and director of Evangel’s graduate and professional studies, and Daniel Noah, junior management major, will lead a group of six students to San Jose, Costa Rica. The team is partnering with Latin America Childcare to serve local schools in and around the San Jose area.

Dominican Republic Jeff Burnett, Evangel’s director of admissions, and Christy Rowden, Evangel’s student activities director, will lead a team of four students to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The group will provide special music, dramas and service to the church and community. The team will work with AG missionaries Berly and Jamie Bello, who founded “Ministerio de Adolescentes.”

Ethiopia A team of 14 will travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to work with the Ethiopian Assemblies of God and the Addis Ababa Bible College. The team will minister at schools and orphanages and will also participate in door-to-door evangelism. Josiah Pennington, senior art education major, Elisabeth Kilsdonk, senior government major, and Evangel ’89 alumnus Kirk Spain will lead the trip. Spain is the administrator of Africa’s Hope, an organization that facilitates training for churches in Africa.

Jamaica Heidi Bartels, a 2011 Evangel alumna, and Rebecca Clark, junior music major, will lead a team of five students to Kingston, Jamaica, to work at an orphanage in Content Gap. The team will present a vacation Bible school and a sports camp to local homeless children. They will also present devotionals in local schools, lead music and do repair projects for the orphanage. The team will be working with missionaries Steve and Kim Puffpaff.

Croatia A team of seven, led by Michelle Grubaugh, senior elementary education major, will travel to Croatia. The team will perform a children’s play called The Puzzle throughout several Croatian cities. This group is partnering with the organization Save Europe’s Children. They will spend one day visiting Serbia.

Study trips provide unique learning experiences

Turkey A group of six, led by Lisa Tyson, assistant director of Evangel’s graduate and professional studies program, and Shawn Hardiman, senior social studies education major, will travel to Turkey for a study tour. The team will tour Istanbul and Ephesus, studying the history and culture of the areas. They will also visit historic landmarks such as museums, palaces, mosques and other archeological sites.

Ukraine Dr. Robert Bartels, associate professor of international studies, will lead a team of five students on a study tour to Ukraine. The group will explore the historical and cultural setting of the Crimean peninsula and will visit sites such as the Levidia Palace, the Crimean War Museum and Balaklava. The team will also interact with local university students.

About Evangel

Evangel is an accredited, liberal arts university with more than 100 academic programs on the cutting edge of today's professional fields. Our commitment to the integration of faith, learning and life attracts students from a wide variety of Christian denominational backgrounds who have a strong commitment to academics with a desire to combine their Christian faith with every aspect of their lives.